Everyday Ayurveda: Rest and Sleep

Sleep is considered the third pillar of health in Ayurveda. New research shows how important it is to get enough rest and sleep to protect you from chronic disease and sleep disorders. It is essential for your health and wellbeing, but many people do not get enough sleep. Getting a good night’s sleep can help improve the immune system and provide better memory. Today we’ll discuss how much sleep you need and how you can fall asleep more easily.

Aim for 8 Hours of Sleep

Everyone is different and so are his or her sleep needs. As a general rule, healthy adults should aim for 8 hours of sleep. However, some people are able to function on less sleep or may need upwards of 10 hours of sleep a night. If you’re not getting enough sleep you may experience excessive sleepiness throughout the day and might not be able to function properly. When you wake up, you should feel refreshed and ready to take on the day! Keep track of when you go to sleep and when you wake up and see how you feel as you go about your day. This is a good way to determine how much sleep you personally need.

Sleep Friendly Ayurvedic Practices

If you’re one of the many people who have trouble sleeping, there are several practices based on Ayurveda that may help. You may want to try gently massaging yourself with sesame oil before taking a bath, drinking a cup of relaxing herbal tea, using awareness to relieve tension in your body and taking easy breaths once you’re in bed. Some people even turn off all of their electronic devices at a certain time every night. Everyone has his or her own bedtime rituals to help fall asleep with ease. You just need to find what works best for you!

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